Berkman and Garcia Power Cardinals Past Phillies

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Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman knocked in the game
 winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the
 Cardinals a 2-1 win over the Phillies. - AP Photo
Tuesday night's game had to be a bit different for St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman.  Berkman had the assignment long-time Cardinals players have dreaded for most of the past decade.

Berkman was facing long-time Houston Astros teammate Roy Oswalt for the first time in his career, and Berkman got the best of the battle. Berkman was 2 for 3 on the night with a walk and a game winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

While Berkman led the charge offensively for the Cardinals, Jamie Garcia certainly did his part on the mound.

Garcia tossed eight splendid innings, allowing just five hits, a walk, and one unearned run while striking out five Phillies hitter.  The outing lowered Garcia's ERA to 1.64 on the season.

The Cardinals defense did cause the Garcia his sixth victory on the season.  Tyler Greene made a costly eighth inning error after entering the game as a defensive replacement for Allen Craig.

Fernando Salas was able to clean up the trash and pick up the victory after throwing a perfect ninth inning.  Salas is clearly cementing himself as the most logical choice for ninth inning duty.  Tuesday night's game was obviously  not a save situation, but Salas was solid once again.

Berkman was not the only Cardinal to get things going offensively on Tuesday night as the Cardinals pounded out 13 hits.

Albert Pujols returned to first base and picked up three hits, including a double while Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was 3 for 4 on the evening with an RBI.

Ryan Theriot and Jon Jay also had two hits a piece in the victory.

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